River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-30


well armed, ready to repel an attack,
and it required 40 admonition to be
prudent and keep their eyes open. NV
friend, whom / will designate a. Jack.
was one of the caterers famous good
liver and a. good a shipmate and
brother officer a. ever held commits
sion.
There was detachment of rebel
cavalry. about thirty in all. who acted
a. a picket guard and lookout. with
headquarters on the green sward 10 the
left of the colonies house From their
posi- they could see everything that tran-
spired Um board. and when a boat would
leave the vessels for the landing they
would mount their horses and with
draw until the blue jackets returned To
their ships. There was "A tacit, though
silent. understanding between the
guard and landing parties not TO fire
upon one another 20 long "a the err
rand~ We're peaceful Through the
long, dreary hours of the day the gray
coats would recline on the lawn, play
cards. smoke. pitch quoits and run ra-
ce~, their voices being plainly heard on
board. Many little package of tea.
coffee. sugar, quinine and little COM
forts were left In conveient places, to
lind In return tob1cco. an occasional
flask Of corn whiskey, a Confederate
I newspaper and "a basket of sweet pot1-
toes. They were the little courteSie-
/ and Interchange of civilitieS which
~oiteued in measure the wrinkles of
q Z l. L..
one morning that Jack. who had been
ashore foraging for the mess. accident
ally learned from an old AMI faith
{ ful negro of the colonel'>. who was the
wheeIwright of the plantation. that his
Young master had returned home from
the army on "a short furlough.
\ few adrot questions revealed the
/ somewhat startling information that
mail passed By the plantation, ON the
main road. bound for the Red river
country. three times week Tuesdays.
/ Thursdays and SATURDAYS Jack knew
that the Admiral was very anxious To
obtain reliable information regarding
the movements and intentions of the
enemy. and rumorS were rife that
number of crafts were being fitted out
at Alexandria. with the intention of
carrying the two isolated Yankee men
of-war 10y boarding and force of superb
or numbers. Exaggerated stories from
Z the lips of panic stricked dJrkies form
eel the Admiral'S only source of news,
and il was neither reliable or sati>fac-
tory. Jacks brain was busy with
{ thinking and planning lie was pull
"a Oh To his vessel. but he made up his
mind to make dash for the Confeder-
ate mail The old darkey had stated
that in addition to the driver the mail
wl~ IN charge Of carrier both of
whom were well armed. and that they
were due ut the plantation at O'Clock
in the afternoon. The neat dag was
HhUr~dav, leaving but little - prepare
plans or strategic articles for the sue
ce~~ful operation of the scheme. Jack
wisely kept his intentions To himself 81
far a bi- brother officers were concern
ed. bgt finally concluded Ia take into
his confidence fireman, whose reputa-
tioU fer courage had been established on
more than one trying occasion. Though
small Ia stature. not over five feet two
inches III height. he was "A perfect ath-
lcte. active "a eat. with level head
and quick 10 act in any emergency lie
was approached bv Jtck: the project
WAS nruJched. the rl>nnes- and dan er
Of the undertaking fully explained 10
the lri>hmau: the latter only added zc>i
Ia the scheme
..Begorra. sir. ann Your man, and
the sooner We are feminist the spot
where the mail goes by the better
shall like it. III stay 10y We. sir. never
fear. or Won d see me "a corpse before
the Johuuie- have a sight al me back
Running from the river Iandiu" to
the main road WAY a private turnpike.
Kept IN order hv the cploncl'> men. On
one side was "a field containing a growth
of gra.. aud weeds about three fee,
high. Towards this JACK and his heuch-
man sauutcred. ~riZiug "a favorable
opportunity To Chamber through the
hedge. which. together with the wild
-tubblc Of the field. cfIectually shielded
them from observation. The picket,
were ia their accustomed nook. con-
tcnicdlt smoking their pipes, little
dreaming of the mischief being Matched
directly under their noses. while the
blue Jackets composing the boats crew
bud been ordered To- keep their a. r and
ewes open. with oars ~hippod. ready to
shove oil at "A moment : warning. Keep
M we'll under cover of the hedge. the
two cou-piratt = quickly worked their
way toward, tine rear of the plantation.
Jack fully realized that discovery would
e. Il -.
forbidden ground. But he had calcu-
lated IN, chances. relying mainly upon
the rI~hnc>s aud DARN" of the effort To
carry him through.
The sound ul voices and rude laugh
ter arrested their progress midway
across the field Pceriug through the
hedge a party of Confederates, under
the charge of a corporal. were di~cov-
erred eating their MONDAY meal. They
were too close To- the main road for
comfort. and Jack whispered 10 his
companion that it was necessary 10
make q dctour 10 the left in order To |
rvade them. The cover of the hedge |
Wa abandoned aud the two dropped |
upon all foUr~ working their way
cautiously through the weeds and !
uuderbru-h. with the lrishman in
advance
suddenly peculiar rattle was heard, |
followed 10y >mothcred impreration
III AN uumi~takahle brogue. A more
furious and prolonged chatter now Salut- !
ed Jack hewildcrcd ears. who. in the |
excitement Of the moment. could not |
for the life of him locate the point |
from which the omiuou~ sound pro- |
cec,icd But the lrishman. with a
movement quick ~ a flash. unshoathed |
hi- culIa>, The flashing blade made a
-cmi-circle around his hcad-not a
moment too soon, for an enormous /
rtttlcSuake coilcd and ready To- dispute |
The iutrUder'> passage Ivy cut in twain !
rforr them.
Holy Saint Patrick. but that was
an ugly cu~~. calculated the little |
fellow Prom the position they occu- |
pir,l they had au uuob~trucetd view |
both up and down the road for fully a |
mile. while intervening trees and the |
friendly hedge eflectually shut them
aui from the surveillance of the picket
Guard They. however. were giving
up attention to matters in their rear.
Their orders were to keep au eve upon
the river, where it was supposed the